Street or station indicator



4 shets -sheet 1.

' Patented Jam-23, 1894.

H. R. KUERSTEN. STREET ORSTATION INDICATOR.

(No Model.)

W Macaw THE NATIONAL urHonRAFumo COMPANY.

WASHINGTON, D. (L

1116111011111 1 V 4 sneets-sheet'z. -H. R. 'KUERSTEN. STREET 0R STATIONINDICATOR.

110,. 513,117. Patented 1. 11 23, 18 94.

wAnwNaToN. n. c.

I (No Modl.) 4 Sheets-Sheet 3.

'H. R. KUERSTEN. STREET 0R STATION INDIGATOR.

No. 513,117. Patented Jan. 23,1894.

(No Model.) '4 Sheets-Sheet 4-.

H. R. KUERSTEN.

STREET 0R STATION INDICATOR.

No. 513,117. Patented Jan. 23, 1 894.

ml NATKINAL Lrrmlmmmfl COMPANY.

WAGMINGTON. n c.

I UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

HUGO R. KUERSTEN, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGN OR TO HIMSELF, AND ALBERTJ. PAULI AND PETER SEIDL, OF, MENOMINEE, MICHIGAN.

STREET OR STATION INDICATOR.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent N 0. 513,117, dated January23,1894.

Application filed April 3, 1893. Serial No. 468.949. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, Hoeo R. KUERSTEN, a citizen of the United States,residing at Ohicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Street or StationIndicators for Railway-Oars,of which the following is a specification,reference being had to the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is apartial longitudinal section of a car, showing part of my improvedindicator. Fig. 2 is a vertical cross section through one end of thecar. Fig. 3 is an enlarged detail, being a side elevation of the drivingwheel and the adjacent mechanism. Fig. 4 is an enlarged detail, being atop or plan View of the parts shown in Fig. 3. Fig. 5 is a detail, beinga section on line 55 of Fig. 3. I Fig. 6 is an enlarged detail of theupper portion of the indicator. Fig. 7 is a sectional view on line 7-7of Fig. 6. Fig.8 is a side elevation of a part of the driving mechanism.Fig. 9 is a section on line 9-9 of Fig. 8; and Fig. 10 is a horizontalsection on line 10-10 of Fig. 6.

My invention relates to indicators adapted to be used upon cars for thepurpose of indicating the cross streets as the car approaches them.

The objects of my invention are to provide an improved indicator whichwill automatically indicate the streets, and one which will be simple inconstruction and may be easily adapted for use on different railwaylines. I accomplish these objects as hereinafter specified and asillustrated in the drawings. That which I regard as new will be setforth in the claims.

In the drawings-11 indicates a car, of which 12 are the Wheels, 13 isthe end wall or panel, and 14 is one of the doors.

15 indicates an indicator, which is preferably arranged over the door atthe end of the car, as best shown in Fig. 2. The indicator consists ofan outer covering, or box 16, having a suitable sight opening throughwhich the names of the streets may appear, such names being carried upona strip 17, of canvas or other suitable material, having the namespainted upon it,said strip being wound upon rollers 18, 19, as bestshown in Fig. 6. The upper roller 18 is a spring roller, preferably ofthe kind commonly used for shade rollers, and is mounted in brackets 20,21, carried by end pieces 22, 23, as best shown in Fig. 6. a shaft 24journaled in the end pieces 22, 23, which shaft is adapted to be rotatedby driving mechanism in one direction or the other. When the shaft 24 isrotated in such direction as to wind the strip 17 upon the roller 19 thespring of the roller 18 will be Wound up, and when the shaft 24 isrotated in the opposite direction the spring of the roller 18 will actto wind the strip upon such roller.

It is evident that,instead of arranging the rollers as shown, the upperroller could be operated by a shaft and the lower one by a spring, asthe construction would not thereby be affected. The shaft 24 projectsthrough the end piece 23, terminating near the side of the car, and isprovided near its end with a sprocket wheel 26, as best shown in Figs. 6and 7.

27 indicates an endless metallic belt, the upper portion of which passesover pulleys 28, 29, supported by a bracket 30 secured to the side ofthe car, as best shown in Figs. 6 and 7. The pulleys 28, 29 are soplaced that their outer portions will be about on a line with the lowerportion of the sprocket wheel 26, so that as the belt 27 passes overthem it will be held in contact with the lower surface of the sprocketwheel 26. The lower portion of the belt 27 passes around a sprocketWheel,

The per- 31 provided with sprockets 32, as best shown in Fig. 9, whichsprockets are adapted to fit into perforations 33 in the belt 27.

The lower roller 19 is mounted upon forations 33 are placed at regularintervals in the belt 27, and are preferably at one edge .90

thereof, as shown in Figs. 6 and 9. By this construction, by rotatingthe sprocket wheel 31 the belt 27 will be driven.

34 indicates slots arranged transversely in the belt 27. The slots 34are equal in number to the cross streets intersecting the railway track,and the spaces between the slots correspond to the distance between thesuccessive cross streets. The slots 34 are so placed as to passimmediately under the teeth of the sprocket wheel 26, and are adapted tobe engaged by said teeth as the belt 27 moves along. By thisconstruction, as the belt 27 ICO sprocket wheel 26, and insures theentering.

of the teeth of the sprocket wheel into the slots 34.

37 indicates a bell mounted over the sprocket wheel 26.

38 indicates a spring hammer, the elasticity of which tends to keep itnormallyin contact with the bell.

* 39 indicates a pivoted rod which is mounted near the sprocket wheel26, one end thereof projecting to near the periphery of said sprocketwheel, and being adapted to be engaged by the sprockets of said wheel asthe wheel rotates.

40, 41 indicate chains or cords which connect the opposite ends of therod 39 with the hammer 38. The arrangement is such that by tilting therod 39 in either direction the hammer 38 will be drawn back out ofcontact with the bell. By this construction, as the sprocket wheel 26rotates the rod 39 will be rocked in one direction or the other, therebymoving the hammer 38 out of contact with the bell. The rotation of thesprocket wheel causes the sprocket to release the rod 39. The spring ofthe hammer will cause it to strike the bell forcibly, thereby causing itto'sound.

Connected to the sprocket wheel 31, and preferably formed integral withit, is a gear wheel 42, which is mounted upon a shaft 43 secured in aslot 44 formed in a plate 45, which plate is secured to the side of thecar. One end of the shaft 43 is screw threaded, and carries a bolt 46back of the plate 45, as shown in Fig. 9, by which construction theposition of the shaft 43 in the slot44 may be adjusted.

47 indicates a bracket arranged in an inclined position under the plate45, as best shown in Fig. 8.

48 indicates a gear wheel mounted in the bracket 47, and adapted tointermesh with the gear wheel 42. 49 indicates a pinion which is mountedin the bracket 47, and intermeshes with the gear Wheel 48. The shaft ofthe pinion 49 is arranged closer to the gear wheel 42 than the gearwheel 48, it being so placed that by shifting the gear wheel 42laterally it may be moved into mesh with said pinion 49, and may therebybe caused to ro- (ate in the reverse direction.

50 indicates a sprocket wheel, which is mounted upon the same shaft asthe gear wheel 48 and is preferably formed integral therewith, as shownin Fig. 9.

51 indicates a link belt, the lower portion the floor of the car.

of which passes around a sprocket wheel 52 mounted upon a shaft 53,which shaft is journaled in bearings carried by a frame 54 mounted uponthe floor of the car, as best shown in Figs. 1 and 3. The upper portionof this belt 51 passes around the sprocket wheel 50, as shown in Figs.1, 8 and 9.

55, 56, 57, 58, 59, indicate a series of gear wheels and pinionsintermeshing with each other, and arranged to diminish the rotation ofthe first pinion 60 as communicated to the sprocket wheel 52. Said gearwheels and pi nions are also mounted upon suitable shafts journaled inthe frame 54.

61 indicates the shaft of the pinion 60, which shaft carries a beveledgear 62, as best shown in Fig. 4.

63 indicates a shaft vertically journaled in a bracket 64 mounted uponthe floor of the car, which shaft carries at its upper end a beveledgear intermeshing with the gear 62, as best shown in Figs. 1 and 4. Theshaft 63 projects a short distance below the floor of the car, as shownin Figs. 3 and 5.

66 indicates a frame which is suspended below the floor of the car,being pivoted in brackets 67, 68, secured to the under side of The frame66 consists of side pieces 69, 70, each of which is provided with avertical slot 71, as best shown in Fig. 1.

72 indicates the track wheel, mounted upon a shaft 73 journaled in aframe 74, as best shown in Figs. 1 and 3. The frame 74 is provided withblocks 75 at each side, which blocks are adapted to move in the slots71, thereby permitting the vertical movement of said Wheel 72.

76, 77 indicate pins which rise centrally from each end of the frame 74.78, 79 indicate similar pins which depend from the frame 66 over thepins 76, 77.

80, 81 indicate springs arranged vertically between the upper pins 78,79 and the lower pins 76, 77. The tension of the springs 80, 81 exerts adownward pressure upon the frame 7 4, and thereby serves to hold thewheel 72 upon the track with a yielding pressure.

The shaft 73 of the wheel 72 projects.

through one side of the frame 74 and carries a beveled gear 82, as bestshown in Fig. 3. The gear 82 intermeshes with a beveled gear 83 arrangedin a horizontal position upon a shaft 84, as best shown in Fig. 3.Rigidly secured to the upper portion of the shaft 84 is a flexible shaft85, consisting of a spring, as best shown in Figs. 2 and 3. The upperend of the shaft 85 is rigidly connected to the lower end of the shaft63, as best shown in Figs. 2 and 3. By this construction the r0- tationof the track wheel 72 in either direction will rotate the shaft 63,thereby rotating the diminishing gears 60, 59, 58, 57, 56, 55 andsprocket wheel 52. The link belt 51 will thereby be rotated, and throughit the indicator will be operated. By providing a ver- -tically movablespring-pressed track wheel the inequalities of the track will not affectthe operation of the indicator, injurious effect from .the rocking ofthe cars is also avoided, and the track-wheel is constantly pressedagainst the track to insure proper and continuous action of theindicator driving mechanism,-in which respect my invention isadvantageous over a track-wheel which simply rests by gravity againstthe track. By pivoting the frame 66 the track wheel will also movesidewise, as maybe necessaryinrounding curves, &c.

In using my improved indicator on street railway lines in which thecarreturns along the same route, the conductor upon starting would loosenthe shaft 43 and move the gear wheel 42 into mesh with either the gearwheel 48 or the pinion 49, depending upon the direction which theindicator should move. As the car progressed, the strip 17 would beunwound from one roller and wound upon the other, until at the end ofthe trip it would be nearly all wound upon a single roller. Upon thereturn trip the gear wheel 42 would be again shifted, causing the belt27 to move in the opposite direction and the strip 17 to be re-woundupon the original roller. All the belts 27 used on a single line wouldbe identical, but by placing the slots 34 properly the indicator couldbe used upon any line. In order to further tighten the belt I provide anidler 86, which is held in contact with the belt 27 by a spring 87, asbest shown in Fig. 1. By the use of a belt having the slots 34 and asprocket wheel 26, the sprocket wheel will not be rotated except whenone of the slots 34 engages one of the teeth of the sprocket wheel, andsuch rotation will cease as soon as the next succeeding tooth of thesprocket wheel comes in contact with the surface of the belt 27. By thisarrangement the strip is moved intermittently, and not constantly, whichis a desirable feature.

I do not wish to limit myself to the use of a series of gear wheels fordiminishing the speed of rotation of the track wheel 72, as many otherequivalent devices could be used, but I prefer to use the arrangementshown.

That which I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by LettersPatent, is-

1. The combination with a track wheel, and a shaft, of an endless belthaving slots, means for driving said belt from said track wheel at adiminishing rate of speed, a sprocket wheel adapted to engage the slotsof said belt and to be rotated thereby to rotate the shaft, and anindicator operated by the rotation of said shaft, substantially asdescribed.

2. The combination with a track wheel, and a shaft, of anendlessbelthavingslots, means for driving said belt from said trackwheel at a diminishing rate of speed, asprocket wheel adapted to engagethe'slots of said belt and to be rotated thereby to rotate theshaft, anindicator operated by the rotation of said shaft, and means forreversingthe movement of said belt, substantially as described.

3. The combination with acar, a. shaft 24,

an .indicator operated by the rotation of the shaft, and asprocket-wheel mounted upon said shaft, of an endless belt 27 havingslots, and mechanism operated by the motion of the car for rotating saidbeltand causing the slots therein to register with and engage the teethof said sproketwheel, said slot-s being arranged a distance apartcorresponding to the distance separating the cross streets intersectingthe route of the car, substantially as described. I a

4. The combination with a car, a shaft 24 mounted therein, an indicatoroperated by the rotation of said shaft, and a sprocket wheel 26 mountedupon said shaft, of a sprocket wheel 31, pulleys 28, 29 arranged undersaid sprocket wheel 26, a belt 27 passing over said pulleys 28, 29 tosaid sprocket wheel 31, perforations in said belt to receive thesprockets of said sprocket wheel 31, slots in said belt adapted toengage the teeth of said sprocket wheel 26, and devices operated by themotion of the car for rotating said sprocket wheel 31, substantially asdescribed.

5. The combination with a car, a shaft 24 mounted therein, an indicatoroperated by the rotation of said shaft, and a sprocket wheel 26 mountedupon said shaft, of a belt 27 having slots 34 adapted to engage theteeth of said sprocket wheel 26, pulleys supporting said belt inproximity to said sprocket wheel 26, a sprocket wheel 31, perforationsin said belt adapted to receive the sprockets of said sprocket wheel 31,a gear wheel 42 connected to said sprocket wheel 31, a shaft 43supporting said gear wheel, said shaft being movable laterally, a gearwheel 48 adapted'to intermesh with said gear wheel 42, a pinion 49intermeshing with said gear wheel 48, and adapted to intermesh with saidgear wheel 42,'and mechanism operated by the motion of the car fordriving said gear wheel 48, substantially as described.

6. The combination with a shaft 24, an indicator operated by therotation of said shaft, and a sprocket wheelmounted upon said shaft, ofmechanism for rotating said sprocket wheel, a pivoted rod 39 adapted tobe engaged by the teeth of said sprocket wheel and to be rocked thereby,a bell 37, a spring hammer 38, and chains connecting the opposite endsof said rod 39 to said hammer 38, wherebyas'said sprocket wheel rotatesthe bell will be sounded, substantially as described.

7. The combination with a car, and indieating devices carried thereby,of a frame depending from the under side of said car, vertically movablebearings carried by said frame,

8. The combination with a car, and indicating devices carried thereby,of a pivoted frame depending from the under side of said car, verticallymovable bearings carried by said pivoted frame, a wheel journaled insaid bearings, springs for exerting a downward pressure upon said wheel,and mechanism operated by the rotation of said wheel for operating saidindicating devices, substantially as described.

9. The combination with a car, and an indicator carried thereby, of aframe 66 pivotally suspended under said car, vertical slots in saidframe 66, a wheel frame 74, blocks carried thereby and adapted to fitinto said slots, a wheel pivotally journaled in said blocks, springs 80,81 exerting a downward pressure upon said frame 74, a flexible shaftrotated by said wheel, and devices operated by said flexible shaft foroperating said indicator, 20

substantially as described.

HUGO R. KUERSTEN.

Witnesses;

J ULIA M. BRISTOL, JOHN L. JACKSON.

